Damascus, SANA – A new Syrian talent has come into the limelight going on Arab Idol, the most-watched singing show to spot new talents in the Arab world. Hazem Sharif, from Aleppo in northern Syria, has showed a remarkable sophisticated skill singing effortlessly a variety of songs throughout the Saudi MBC TV channel-broadcast program which has earned him a standing ovation from the judges. Twenty-six contestants out of the thousands Arabs who auditioned made it through to the live shows of the third season of the program, which has been widely acclaimed since its launch in 2012. With his strong voice and firm performance, Sharif, who came to the Lebanese capital Beirut brimming with ambition and determination to win, has had the audience cheering him on enthusiastically throughout the live shows.

The new Syrian star qualified for the final two episodes scheduled for Friday and Saturday after singing for two of the most popular iconic Arab singers, Milhem Barakat and the late Abdel-Halim Hafez. He has won the support and votes of the audience and never been in danger of elimination in any episode. Sharif is expected to make a “surprise” song on Syria on the final episode, as he told SANA reporter. He said he has been going through very intensive rehearsals in preparation for the finals, adding that he has sought through his participation in Arab Idol to make “my country proud” especially under the difficult circumstances facing Syria. Many Syrian voices have made it to the finals in almost every talent-spotting shows, but, according to observers and the fans, most of those voices were treated unfairly at the end as far as the votes are concerned due to the commercial and political considerations of the TV channels producing the shows. The recent of those was Farah Youssef, who lost the Arab Idol title to a Palestinian talent last season. A few years earlier, Rouwaida Attieh was the first runner-up on the first season of Super Star, broadcast on the Lebanese Future TV channel. She was a favorite to win the contest, which was won by Jordanian contestant Diana Karazon. Ibrahim El Hakami from Saudi Arabia became the 3rd Super Star over the Syrian Shahd Barmada.